Pipe-tongs.



R. D. HILL.

PIPE TONGS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.27,1916.

Patented Sept. 5, 1916.

[.NVENTOR.

S m N H W A TORJV E Z.

RICHARD DENNIE HILL, OF ELECTRA, TEXAS.

PIPE-TONGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 5, 1916.

Application filed April 27, 1916. Serial No. 94,059.

To all whom. it may concern Be it known that I, RICHARD DENNIEHrLL,.citizen of the United States, residing at Electra, in the countyof Wichita and State of Texas, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Pipe-Tongs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to an improvement in pipe tongs, and in suchconnection it relates more particularly to the arrangement andconstruction of parts constituting the tongs.

In devices of the class to which my invention relates, considerabledifiiculty has heretofore been experienced, especially in tongs whichhave two gripping jaws pivotally connected together, in securing arelatively simple and light construction having a relatively strong andsimple pivotal connection between the jaws. Inasmuch as the strain indevices heretofore constructed has been applied directly to the pivotalconnection between the jaws in the operation of the tool, both the pivotand the connected parts were made of heavy and unwieldly construction tosecure the necessary strength at that point.

It is one of the main objects of my present invention to provide a newarrangement of parts, whereby the pivotal connection between the twogripping jaws of the tool is relieved of direct strain during theoperation of the tool.

Another object of my invention is to provide a relatively simple, yeteflicient means for locking the jaws in gripping engagement with thepipe, and it is still a further object of my invention to so connect allthe parts that any one or all may be quickly and easily detached for thepurposes of replacement or repair.

The nature and scope of my invention will be more fully understood fromthe following description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, forming part hereof, in which Figure 1 is a side elevationalview of pipe tongs, embodying the main features of my invention. Fig. 2is an underneath plan view (partly broken away) of the same. Fig. 3 is adetail side elevational view, partly broken away, showing the tongs inopen position, and Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken on the line44 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the handle of the tongs, havingits extreme projecting beyond the cut away portion in the form of a wingor lug 3. The handle 1' is pivoted adjacent to its cut away end 2between two cheek pieces 4 by means of a removable bolt 5 traversing thecheek pieces 4 and the handle 1. The lug 8 of handle 1 is provided witha pin 6 engaging a slot in one end of a toggle or link 7. The link 7 isarranged immediately below one of the cheek pieces, and the pin 6 of lug3 is preferably screw threaded in the lug 3 to be readily removabletherefrom. The cheek pieces 4 also inclose and are secured to the rearof a gripping block 8 projecting beyond the forward ends of the twopieces to constitute one of the gripping jaws of the tool. The othergripping jaw 9 of the tongs consists of a hookshaped piece having itsrear end fiattened into a lug or wing 10, which is provided with adetachable or removable pin 11, entering a second slot of the toggle orlink 7. The rear end of jaw 9 is inclosed between the cheek pieces 4immediately below the gripping block 8, and is pivotally connected tosaid check pieces by a removable bolt 12. In the preferred form of thedevice, this bolt 12 has a cam or eccentric surface 13 working in theopening in jaw 9 traversed by the bolt 12. The bolt 12 is arranged to bepositively turned to operate the jaw 9 and through the toggle connection7 to operate the handle 1 and cheek pieces 4, carrying the grippingblock 8. A preferred means for turning bolt 12 consists of an arm, orlever 14 locked to a projecting end of bolt 12 by a nut 15 and extendingrearward above a check piece 4, and above the handle 1. To lock the arm14 to the cheek pieces 4, when the jaws 8 and 9 are in grippingengagement with the pipe 16 (see Figs. 1 and 2 and Fig. 4), I make usepreferably of a pin 17 traversing the arm 14, and entering a notch 18 ofthe adjacent cheek piece 4. A lever arm 19 pivoted to the arm 14, and

pressed upward by spring 20, carries the toggle 7 to assume an angularposition (see Fig. 3) and the toggle 7 then permits the handle 1 andblock 8 to be retracted. In normal position, the toggle connection 7 isarranged substantially parallel to the plane of each of the grippingfaces of the jaws 8 and 9 when said jaws engage the pipe 16, and hencethe pivot pins 6 and 11 are not subjected to strain when the jaws areclamped to the pipe. The block 8 has by preference its gripping faceserrated or notched-but the jaw 9 may have by preference a plaingripping face.

Having thus described the nature and objects of my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Pipe tongs comprising a handle, two cheek pieces between which thehandle is pivoted, a gripping block carried by the cheek pieces, agripping jaw pivoted in the cheek pieces adjacent to the gripping block,and a toggle connection between the con tiguous ends of the handle andgripping aw.

2. Pipe tongs comprising a handle, two

Copies of this patent may be obtained for cheek pieces between which thehandle is pivoted, a gripping block carried by the cheek pieces, agripping jaw pivoted in the cheek pieces adjacent to the gripping block,a toggle connection between the contiguous ends of the handle andgripping jaw, an arm secured to and operating the pivotal connection ofthe gripping jaw in said cheek pieces, and a means for locking said armto the cheek pieces when said gripping jaw and block are in lookingengagement with the p Pipe tongs comprising a handle, two cheek piecesbetween which the handle is pivoted, a gripping block carried by thecheek pieces, a gripping jaw, an eccentric bolt pivotally connecting thegripping jaw to the cheek pieces adjacent to the gripping block, and atoggle connection between the contingous ends of the handle and grippingjaw.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

RICHARD DENNIE HILL.

five cents each, by'addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington,D, Q.

